Nine Lives of a Cat Burgler

Is this Narnia?

A lion, a witch and a room the size of a wardrobe. This is the pleasant view I get when I wake up strapped to a chair. Ok, I might be exaggerating a bit here. It is probably a bit more accurate to describe it as: a very , very exceedingly large tabby cat, its owner who glares at me and the surrounding cell which is just a bit bigger than a cupboard. The lady, with the very, very, exceedingly large tabby cat, picks up a walkie talkie from the table next to her.

"The girl's awake." she speaks clearly into it.

"Ok, we're on our way." the reply comes. There is a pause. The cat stares at me from the spot it chose on the lady's lap.

"Your cat is staring at me." I tell her. She looks at me, silent. "So, where are we." still nothing. "I like the way you've decorated. Really brings out the cramped dark, dingy feel." still nothing. I open my mouth to say more but I am silenced by the opening of the single door.

A woman walks in accompanied by a man. There is someone else; I can sense them. The man gestures for them to stay outside.

"Hello Arabella Clavicha. You can call me Sir. I have been sent to ask you some questions."

"I will answer your questions only when you answer mine."

"I am afraid that is not possible. Now first thing, do you admit to being at the Laytons on the 5th of June?" Oh God, I have been arrested!

"No Sir."

"Next question, Can you tell us why you were at the Layton's on the 5th of June?"

"No Sir."

"Third question, Do you know who we are?"

"No Sir."

He smiles at me graciously and then talks to the lady with the very, very, exceedingly large tabby cat. There is definitely something between them.

"Get the lie detector." Lie detector! Don't tell me those things are actually real? The Lady with the very, very, exceeding large tabby cat ( this is getting hard to say. Lets just shorten it to cat lady) goes out the room. She enters with a medium sized silver box. She opens the lid and takes out two pads which she attaches to my temples. Oh, so they actually do have a lie detector. I might be in a tad bit of trouble now.

"Do you admit to being at the Layton's on the 5th of June?

After another 5 minutes of intense questioning and a series of red flashes coming from the box. He gestures for the box to be removed.

"Now are you going to tell me the truth?"

I glare, sigh and then nod. The hit to the back of the head hurt. A lot.

"Ok, I was there. I stole some jewels. I met a boy. You are the Resistance."

He smiles. "Now that was easier wasn't it? Now as you know we are the Resistance and we want you to work for us."

"I thought I told you. No!"

"When we asked nicely you did. We decided that nice obviously wasn't the way to ask you after that. By the way, how are the injuries?" No answer " O.k, well I will be leaving you now to discuss our options now we got you. Nice to meet you Arabella Clavicha."

"I wish the feeling was mutual Sir."

He gets up and exits, pausing slightly in the door way to say, "Isaac, are you still here? You have work to do, do it!" to the figure outside. Now the room is empty apart from me and that cat. The cat looks at me. I look away. Shuffling in my seat, I manage to get my hands to my pocket. Pulling out my penknife, I cut through the duck tape manacles imprisoning me. With my hands free, I go to the next priority, my head. Blood comes away at my fingers. My hair is matted, sticky and wet.

Gross. Next my torso. Good news. It feels like I broke the fall. Bad news. It feels like I broke it with my ribs. Ow. Definitely got a couple of broken ribs. Bruises up my arms seem to be the only damage there and there is a cut on my leg but nothing too dramatic. My hand goes back to my head. There are plenty of things I could say here which I won't. I don't want to scare off the more delicate of you.

There is a small tap at the door and the Ace enters. I should have known he would be around here.

"A.B! I was so glad you agreed to come with us. I mean, you don't know the things they would have done if you had said..."

His eyes widen at the sight of me. I must admit. Today isn't the best I have ever looked. But surprisingly it isn't the worst either.

"Surprise. Guess what! I said no."

" I am so sorry, A.B, I didn't know they were planning to do this." He reaches out to touch my arm. I pull away. He sits down next to me. His eyes glance up to my head. He opens his mouth to say something and then shuts it again. We sit there in silence for a few minutes before the tiredness, pain and general stress get to me.

I knew they would sooner or later. I sit silently as a single tear traces its way around my face. He watches it and then hugs me stiffly. I silently deal with the pain. I can tell this is his way of an apology. The cat jumps to the floor and exits the room silently.

Like it knew it wasn't wanted.

Like it knew this was something it shouldn't watch.